SlapstickSlapstick 93-96 (Asian Man Records)By: Alex SteiningerEven though Slapstick called it quits, they still wanted to give you one more record full of their powerful punk with ska thrown in here and there for the road. And the end result is a compilation of twenty-five songs spanning their three years.

The CD starts off with "There's a Metal Head in the Parking Lot." It starts out with some nice ska that you could certainly get up and dance to, and then the punk kicks in. Crunchy bass lines, heavy guitar, mighty drums, and horns that add a nice aroma to the song. Then when the chorus hits you get another chance at skankin'. As the vocalist snarls the words to the chorus, a heavy ska beat lines the song. You'll be forced to get up and jump and dance around your room. "The Park" brings you memories of being five years old. Remember when you could walk to the park and play with all your little friends. You didn't have any problems in the worlds. "I'm not seeing why it's so hard to get along these days/it didn't seem that hard when we were kids/I wanna be a kid again/I wanna play in the park" shouts the vocalist. And as he says that you know exactly how he is feeling. "What I learned" throws angry punk in your face. A fast paced song that deals with issues that everyone can relate to. "Do you wanna know what I learned at work today?/how to be a racist/how to be sexist" are the words that bring societies bad traits right to your face. They nail the problem head on. With a great blend of punk, and political conscious lyrics that everyone has felt at one time, this song is a definite album stand-out. "Almost Punk Enough" brings us some more ska-punk beats that will get your feet movin'. From the fast and furious choruses to the skankin' beats this song will have you skankin', jumping, and playing air guitar along with it. "She Doesn't Love Me" keeps on serving you what you love. Fast, furious punk written from the heart with ska thrown in. Throw in the horns, and you have a party. "The Punks" keep it coming. You'll never be let down. After each song you'll want more, and that's exactly what they'll give you. Track twenty-three, "My Only Friend," brings you more, and more of their friendly ska-punk. You'll wonder why these guys ever broke up, because this album will blow you away. "Alternative Radio" closes out the CD with a bang! It gives their feelings on alternative music, and alternative radio. And I can tell you this much, they don't like alternative radio. Bright horns, meaty guitar, drums that will increase your heart rate, and very chunky base make this CD fabulous.

Slapstick was so talented, after one listen to this CD you'll be weeping over their absence. This is one of the best CD's of 1997. If you don't pick up this precious twenty-five track gem, you'll kick yourself later in life. Get this CD and put some happiness back into your life! A definite A+. Farewell Slapstick, you'll be missed!